Fiber optic connectors and structures for optical fibers and methods for using the same

Abstract

In one embodiment, a device comprises at least one ferrule having a bore, the bore extending from a rear of the ferrule toward a front of the ferrule, wherein the bore is sized to receive an optical fiber with a buffer at a rear end face of the ferrule, wherein the front end of the ferrule includes an optical component.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device, comprising:
 at least one ferrule having a bore, the bore extending from a rear of the ferrule toward a front of the ferrule, wherein the bore is sized to receive a single optical fiber with a glass core, a cladding, a protective layer and a buffer surrounding the fiber cladding at a rear end face of the ferrule and at front end face of the ferrule, wherein said front end of the ferrule includes an optical component. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said optical component is an optically transparent window or a lens. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said ferrule further includes an index matching material situated in said bore proximate to said optical component. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said index matching material is situated at least on one side of said optical component. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said ferrule further includes at least one fiber securing structure. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5  wherein said fiber securing structure includes at least one protrusion applying compressive force and indenting into said buffer. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein said securing structure forms a cavity that is big enough the single optical fiber with a buffer van be pressed or inserted by hand into the securing area. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said ferrule includes movable split arms. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said ferrule has an outer surface with mating features structured to engage at least one surface of an active device or of a ferrule connector. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , further including an optically transparent protruding structure situated inside the bore, near the front end of the ferrule. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , further including a protruding structure, and a fiber with the fiber endface situated adjacent to said protruding structure. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , further including an index matching material between said fiber endface situated and said protruding structure. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein (i) said ferrule further comprises ribs situated on a surface of the bore; and/or (ii) comprising a buffered fiber situated in said bore, wherein said ribs contact the buffer. 
     
     
       14. The method of connecting an optical fiber/buffer assembly to an active device or ferrule connector, comprising the steps of:
 (i) inserting the fiber/buffer assembly into a ferrule that includes an optical component, such that the endface of the optical fiber/buffer assembly is situated in adjacent to at least one surface of said optical component, wherein the fiber/buffer assembly includes an optical fiber with a glass core, a cladding surrounding the core, a protective coating thereon, and a buffer situated over said coating; 
 (ii) inserting the ferrule into the mating receptacle of the active device or of the ferrule connector. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of:
 (i) cutting or cleaving the optical fiber buffer assembly while the buffer surrounds the optical fiber; 
 (ii) inserting the fiber/buffer assembly into the ferrule such that the cut or cleaved endface of the optical fiber is situated in adjacent to the at least one surface of said optical component. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of inserting index-matching material into the ferrule so that index-matching material is situated in contact with the endface of the optical fiber. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said ferrule includes a portion with a U shaped opening. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1 , further including said single optical fiber, the optical fiber and said fiber forming a fiber/buffer assembly comprising an optical fiber with the glass core having a core diameter of at least 80 microns, a cladding surrounding the core, the protective coating surrounding said cladding, and the buffer is situated over said coating. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein said protective coating has a protective coating having a Young's modulus greater than 700 MPa, a thickness≦15 μm. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 18 , wherein said core is 175 to 220 microns in diameter.